Work holder



INVENTOR.

Aim/M05.

J. ROCK, JR

WORK HOLDER Filed May 10, 1948 Sept. 13, 194

III-

Patented Sept. 13, 1949 ,j2,4s1,s'84- {worm HOLDER- .loseph Rock, Jr.-,. North Syracuse, 'assignor to Grouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a

corporation of New York ApplicationMayIO,1948, Serial Nb. 26,211 20mins. (01.239 4)v 'Thisin'vention relates to a device for automat- I ically holding a work piece on a support while a machining operation is performed on the work.

The invention has as an object a work holder embodying a particularly "economical structure including power actuated means for firmly gripping the work without injury thereto, and holding the work piece secure for the machining operation but permitting a slight universal movement to the work piece.

The invention has a further object a work holder embodying a structure whereby the work piece may be quickly and conveniently positioned on, and removed from, the holder.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the r views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a structure embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22, Figure 1, illustrating the work holder operatively holding a work piece.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the work engaging member, compression plate and contiguous portion of the support, illustrating the parts in released condition.

The work holder comprises a support I0. As here shown, the support I is in the nature of a relatively heavy, rigid, fiat metal plate. In practise, this support [0 constitutes a part of the machine performing the work operation.

The Work piece ll, illustrated in the drawings, is in the nature of an electric conduit outlet box having hubs l2 and 13, the box being formed, in the side opposite the hub l2, with an oblong opening.

A work engaging member I4 is mounted upon the upper surface of the support plate [0. This member is formed of resilient material, such as rubber or other elastic material, and its periphery is complemental to the work piece or, as in this instance, to the opening in the side of the work piece.

A compression plate I5 is superimposed upon the work engaging member l4, overlying the same, and being coextensive therewith. This plate I5 is operable, when moved toward the support plate 10, to compress the work engaging member l4 and cause the same to expand laterally into engagement with the interior of the work piece II, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The device includes poweractuated-means for effecting movementof. thecompression, plate, l5 towardsthe. support Ill. This means consists of a cylinder 16 and a piston 11. The piston is fixedly mounted ,upon a stud.l8 securedto and depending from the under side of the plate ID, The cylinder I6 is carried by screws I9 depending from the compression plate l5 and being threaded into the top Wall 20 of the cylinder. The screws l9 are slidably mounted in the plate H]. The cylinder 16 is provided with an end closure 2| apertured, as at 22, to receive a conduit connected to a controlled source of fluid under pressure. The upper portion of the cylinder is provided with a suitable breather port 23.

In operation, the work piece II is placed upon the plate It, with the work engaging member l4 and the compression plate l5 extending into the interior of the work piece. Fluid pressure is then applied through the aperture 22, causing the piston to move downwardly effecting compression movement of the plate I5 toward the support l0, whereupon the peripheral portion of the work engaging member is expanded into engagement with the work piece, as shown in Figure 2.

The plate [5 and the work engaging member M in normal condition are, in size and shape, complemental to the work piece ll, these parts being only slightly smaller in dimension to provide a slight clearance 25 between the periphery of these members and the opening in the work piece to facilitate positioning and removal of the work piece. The plate I5, in addition to effecting compression of the member l4, serves as a guide for positioning the work on the support I0, and to this end the peripheral portion of the plate is rounded, as at 26.

The expansion of the member [4 into engagement with the work piece securely holds the same on the support [0 during the machining operation as, for example, during the tapping of the hubs l2, l3, as by taps indicated in dotted outline at 21. However, due to the resilient character of the work engaging member, a slight universal movement of the work piece is permitted. This is found to be particularly desirable in tapping and reaming operations, as it permits the cutting tools to center in the bores in which they are operated. This movement is limited by engaging of the work piece with the periphery of the compression plate l5.

Upon release of the pressure from the lower portion of the cylinder I6, the resilient member l4 contracts to its original dimension, as shown in Figure 3, whereby the work piece can be consystem which functions to move the work piece H in juxtaposition to the tools 21 and, afterthe performance of the machine operation, to advance the work pieces to a discharge station. I

What I claim is: 7 1. A work holder for holding a work piece comprising a rigid support having a fiatsurfacem;

adapted to receive and support the work piece, a work piece engaging member formed of resilient material mounted on said support, the periphery fof said member'being'shaped complemental to said work piece, a compression plate overlying said member and being coextensive therewith, f and being movable toward said support to compress said member;-'said member being operable upon such compression to expand into engagement with the work piece, and power actuated means mounted on the under side of said support and operable to effect compression movement of 5 said Plate.

2. A work holder for holding a work piece formed with a recess extending inwardly from one side thereof, a rigid "support-having a flat surface adapted-to receive the apertured side of the work piece, a work piece engaging member formed of resilient material mounted on said support, the periphery of said member being shaped complemental to the aperture in said work piece, a; rigid compression plate overlying said work engaging member and being coextensive therewith and movable toward said support to v compresssaid; member, said member being operable upon such compression to expand into engagement with the work piece, and power actuated means mounted on the under side of said support and beingmperable to effect, compression movement. of said plate. 7 i JOSEPH ROCKLJLQ v No references cited V 

